Just like fashion, the world of home design has its trends. One year there might be a lot of leather on the runway while maple wood is dominating kitchens nationwide. Closed toe shoes may be taking home gold in the fashion race at the same time wicker baskets are filling living rooms everywhere. It’s all relative to the time, and like fashion, home renovation is a continuously evolving industry. Each year brings with it new and improved gadgets and accessories that have home decorators clamoring over themselves to get a hold of. Bearing this in mind, we decided to pull together a list of the trends in kitchen and bathroom remodeling we see coming to a head so far in 2015 and share them with you.

Heavy Metals Sinks and Lighting Fixtures

Copper lighting and cast sinks are popping up in home renovation magazines everywhere. What,s more is the metals, particularly in the sinks, are engraved and carved with elaborate designs. This gives the once plain looking feature of your bathroom sink a glamorous kick.

Motion sense Kitchen Appliances

This year kitchens across the world are going hand less and “one-touch”. Manufacturers are making great strides to remove handles from faucets, appliances, and cabinets. These features are lending kitchens a streamlined appearance that has never before been achievable before the introduction of this type of technology into the home. German manufacturer Baufomat’s has introduced a line of cabinets they are calling the “Climber” which open when you wave your hand across them. Moen has put out a kitchen faucet in it’s Motionsense line that still retains it’s handle, however, can sense the presence of an object like a pot or a hand in front of it’s spout and water will continue to pour from it as long as the object remains there.

Light Blues and Greens

Neil Kelly designers report that they are “seeing light blues and greens becoming increasingly popular.” They also give a helpful hint to any homeowners who are wanting to get a jump on the color trends stating “If you want to know what the hot colors are going to be in the coming year don’t go to the paint store, go to Bed, Bath, and Beyond- or any store that sells bath towels. They will start stocking new towel colors long before those colors show up in the paint stores. Retail has to be way ahead of the game.”

Re-purposed Woods

A growing and environmentally friendly trend that has caught our eyes at Collom Construction, Inc is the use of re-purposed wood from old barns, docks, bridges, railroad trusts. Instead of this material ending up in a landfill, it is showing up in remodeled kitchens as rustic dining tables and chairs. The use of re-purposed wood gives any room a cozy cottage feel or, depending upon the style in which the wood is refurbished, a hearty, almost medieval feel.

With these trends in mind, we can’t wait to see what kind of ideas our customers come to us with. Collom Construction, Inc loves to be involved with the creative adventures people undertake when remodeling their homes. Let’s get those creative juices flowing people!

The real estate industry in San Diego, CA and around the country may rise and fall throughout the years, but one thing that is definitely on the rise is the multi-generational home. These homes may not necessarily be larger in size, but consist of families who have the grandparents, parents, adult children or young children living in the home altogether. It’s estimated that 51 million families in the U.S. live in multi-generational homes, and that in 2012 it was found that 22.7% of adults over age 85 lived in these types of dwellings.

Today we’ll explore what exactly constitutes multi-generational living and why it’s on the rise. If you’re expecting some additional family members to be moving in, Collom Construction has the tools you need to prepare your home for the change.

What is Multi-Generational Living in San Diego, CA?

Multi-generational homes consist of multiple generations of a family living under one roof – parents, grandparents, and/or children. Developers have caught on to this 21st century trend, and designed home floorplans to fit this new modern family. These homes now include multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, and larger gathering areas. Some have even created the “In-Law Suite,” which is typically a ground floor bedroom aimed specifically for in-laws to move in.

While our culture has come to expect generations of a family to live apart, the trends are starting to point in the opposite direction. Many may argue that multi-generational living can foster great family unity, with homes that still offer a semblance of privacy for each generation as well. Giving grandma and grandpa the privacy they need, or having a place for the grandchildren to stay when they visit, will keep everyone comfortable.

But why is multi-generational living becoming a hot topic again?

Why Is It On the Rise?

With today’s cost of college these days, it’s not unusual for a college graduate to move back in with their parents and siblings. It’s a smart choice from an economic standpoint so that they have the security of home while starting their careers. A recent analysis of the market has also found that renting apartments is becoming more and more expensive.

For elderly family members such as grandparents, it may be for medical or emotional reasons that compel them to move back in with their children. They can be looked after while also maintaining close ties with their own family, instead of in a nursing home with strangers.

All of the above situations are substantial reasons why multi-generational living is on the rise. Additional rooms and bathrooms not only make it convenient for your relatives, but can also be a great perk to your home’s value.

Make Your Home Fit for Multi-Generations

If you are considering including additional family members within your home, Collom Construction has the tools and the know-how to help prepare your home for them. Before you make any remodeling decisions, ask yourself the following questions:

What additions do you need?

Not every multi-generational home will need an extra bedroom addition to be built. Sometimes it can be as easy as turning an extra office or den into a bedroom. Think about who’s moving in and what they would need: do they need a space on the bottom floor because they can’t climb stairs? Will they need any medical equipment in the room with them? Can they easily access areas such as the kitchen or living room from their bedroom?

Once you have answered these questions and found that you may need to make some changes to your home, contact us to have a licensed contractor assess the space to see if it can accommodate your needs.

While transforming a den or office into a bedroom may seem easy, one thing to keep in mind is whether or not the family member(s) will be needing other additions, such as an extra bathroom or a separate living room. This could require an extensive remodel, but can also add value to your home. Which brings us to our next point...

Will you be selling the house in the future?

If you are making changes to your home and don’t anticipate living in the home forever, then consider consulting a realtor to see what may or may not be appealing to future buyers. The addition of an elevator, chairlift, or a ramp may be a great convenience now, but down the line it may not be so tempting to possible buyers. However, having multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, and more can certainly add immeasurable value to a family home.

Do you have the resources or budget for a possible remodel?

If you’ve decided to move forward with a remodel or addition on the home, make sure that you have your budget in place and have spoken with a designer, or a design/build contractor about the cost, to make sure there are no surprises. You can read more about this in our article “11 Tips For Preparing to Remodel Your Home.”

Let Collom Construction Serve Your Needs

If you’re expecting family to move back home, consult with Collom Construction to ensure that your home is prepared. We are conveniently located in the La Mesa area of San Diego, CA, and as a design/build firm we can help you determine what changes may be needed.

From remodels to additions, we have the resources you need to make you dream home a reality. We’ll make sure that your home has all the necessary amenities to help your incoming family members feel comfortable. Our goal is to ensure that our projects not only meet your expectations, but go beyond them and last for a lifetime. Contact us today for advice or an estimate.